Apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines.



No.. 031,206. Patented Aug. l5, |899. J. EnMoNnsou & .1.- w. nAwsoN.

APPARATUS FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

(Application led Apr. 4, 1898.)

W/T/VESSES.

Tu: ums mi ca. muro-umm wnumamu, o4 c UNITED *STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH EDMONDSON AND JOHN WILLIAM DAWSON, OF BRADFORD,

7 ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR STARTING |NTERNAL-OOMBusTlON ENGINES.

:SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,206, dated August 15, 1899.

Application iiledill'pril 4, 1898. Serial No. 676 ,377. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, JOSEPH EnMoNDsoN and JOHN WILLIAM DAWSON, both subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Bradford, inthe county ot' York, England, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Starting Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification- This invention relates to improved apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines by thering of initial and successive explo` sive charges, the object of same being to provide an arrangement of parts which is certain and efcient in action.

Our apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-.

Figure 1 is an Yelevation of' the apparatus,l

partly in section. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the center of the starting-valve and casing, showing vthe valve in one position. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the valve in another position.` Fig. 4 is a plan of the valve-casing.

The main cylinder of the engine is indicated2 The passage 2 is the entrance for the at l. explosive gas entering the compression-cham ber of the cylinder. l, This passage connects with a hand-pump 6, having gas and :air inlets 7 and 8, respectively, which are providedV with suitable non-return valves. I The outlet from the pumps connects with a valve-chamber 12, having a suitable non-return valve, and on the other side the chamber 12 communicates with ,the chamber of the ignitingvalve 3, the exit/3l of which-communicates with the passage 2 of the cylinder.

2O is the plugvof the valve, having a chamber 32 communicating with the gas-supply bythe pipe or passage 33 and with the internal burner 34, placed in a second chamber 35, having apertures 36 and 37 communicating with the Open air, as in Fig. 2, or with the passages .31 and 38, as in Fig. 3, according to the yposition of the valve. A gap 39 in the plug portion of the valve forms a communication between the mixture-inlet passage 30- andthe passage 38, as in Figi 2, or

a squared piece V44 and also a roller 45.. A calm 28 is placed on the cam-shaft 29 of the engine in an5T convenient position, the operation of the parts being hereinafter described. In the ignition-valve a channel 46 is cut, opening Vinto the chamber 32 at 47. This opens communication between the said chamber and the passage 31 While the valve is passing from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 previous to the opening of communication between the passage 3l and the passage 38 through the chamber 35.

To the end of the arm 19 of the ignition- ,valve is attached one end of a spring 22, the .other end of which is fixed tothe bracket 42.

A catch 48, pivoted on the bracket 42, is adapted to drop and catch a square projection or block 48a, carried by the lever 25, when the lever 25 is niovedto the left, the position of the catch being shown in dotted lines. The roller 45 is thus held clear of the cam 29, and

'the apparatus is at rest notwithstanding the running of the engine and cam.

The operation of the apparatus is ras follows: The engine is placed alittle before the middle of the explosion-stroke with the cam 28 in the position shown in Fig. l, with the square piecel 44 restingon it, as shown. The catch 48 is raised into the position shown in full lines. are then in the position shown by the full lines, the square piece 44 resting on the cam, and the ignition-valve lin the position shown in Fig. 2.. The' pilot-jet from burner 40 being lighted, it ignites the internal jet coining from burner 34.. The gas-valves of the engine being open, as usual, from starting, the exhaust-valve of the engine (or a special ori# The levers 25,v rod 24, and arm 19- Y fice for this purpose) being also open, explosive mixture is pumped into the cylinder by the pump 6 until it is filled With an explosive charge. The exhaust-Valve is then closed7 and pumping being continued the piston is slowly propelled by the increasing internal pressure and carries the cam 2S in the direction of the arrow until the square piece 44 drops off the cam end. The levers 24 25 are then drawn quickly into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l, and the ignition-valve takes the position shown in Fig. 3, and igniting the explosive mixture in the channel 38 and exit 3l the flame travels to the cylinder, the charge is fired, and the piston is propelled. The pumping being still continued, the cam 28 operates the ignitionvalve as required, the passage 38, exit 3l, and the tube connecting with the cylinder are kept filled with explosive mixture, and a succession of impulses are given to the piston. This is continued until the tiring of the charge is taken up by the ordinary ignition apparatus of the engine. The operator then ceases pumping, moves the top lever 25 well over to the left, the catch 4S drops into its dotted position, so that the piece 44 is clear of the cam, and the starting apparatus rests till again required. It is only necessary thus to pump the cylinder full of explosive mixture in cases in which the cylinder was previously iilled with aspent charge. If it be already scavenged and filled with air, the exhaust-valve is left closed, and a charge of gas suliicicnt to make an explosive mixture with the contained air is pumped in. This is followed up by pumping explosive mixture, as before described and with the same results.

It will be seen that any eiicient mode of ignition maybe used in place of the one herein described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- l. In starting apparatus of internal-combustion engines an ignition-valve having an inner dame-chamber, a passage partially sur.- rounding said chamber, ports opening from said chamber and said passage and so arranged that during charging the explosive mixture passes through said passage and that when firing said charge the name-chamber is open to such passage which is closed toward the passage leading to the charge-supply pipe.

2. In starting apparatus for internal-coinbustion engines, and in combination, a pump; a check-valve; an ignition-valve; an arm controlling the spindle of the ignition-valve; a pivoted lever; a rod connecting one arm of said pivoted lever and said arm controlling the spindle of the ignition-valve a spring exerting a constant pull on the arm of said spindle; a cam-shaft on the engine; a cam thereon adapted to contact with one arm of said pivoted lever when the latter is free to operate; 6 5

and a catch for holding the said lever out of engagement with said cam, substantially as described.

3. In starting apparatus of internal-combustion engines and in combination, a pump, a check-valve, an ignition-valve, an arm controlling the spindle of the latter, a pivoted lever 25, a bracket 42 on which same is pivoted, a rod 24 connecting the lever 25, an arm 19, a spring connecting the arm to the bracket, a cam-shaft of the engine, a cam adapted to operate the lever and through it the ignitionvalve, and a catch for holding the lever out of engagement with the cam.

4. In apparatus for starting internal-combustion-engines,the combination withavalve# casing having a hollow valve-chamber and passages communicating with said chamber, one of said passages partially surrounding said chamber and communicating with another of said passages leading to the cylinder of the engine, of a Valve-plug in said casing having a hollow flame-chamber, and having an exterior passage arranged to connect the inlet-passage with said partially-surrounding passage when the valveplug is turned for charging, and to disconnect said passages when ignitin g the charge, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for starting internal-combustion engines,the combination withavalvecasing having a hollow valve-chamber, with passages communicating with said chamber, and open-air apertures in said chamber, one of said passages partially surrounding said chamber and communicating with another of said passages leading to the cylinder of the engine; of a hollow turning-plug in chamber having circumferential openings therein arranged to register either with said air-aperture or the openings to two of the said passages, as turned and having an exterior passage arranged to connect the inlet-passage with said partially-surrounding passage,when the plug is turned for charging, and to disconnect said passages when igniting the charge, substantially as described.

(i. In an apparatus for charging internalcombustion engines, the combination with a valve-casing having a hollow valve-chamber, passages communicating with said chamber' and circumferential open-air apertures therein; one of said passages partially surrounding chamber and communicating with another of said passages; of a valve-plug in said casing having a hollow Haine-chamber, and circumferential openings therein, and having an exterior passage arranged to connect one of said passages with said partially-surrounding passage when the valve-plug is turned for charging and to disconnect said passages when igniting the charge; a burner within said dame-chamber of the plug and a pilot- IOO IIO

1o the pump and giving successive explosions independently of the ordinary firing apparatus.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH EDMONDSON. JOHN WILLIAM DAWSON.

Witnesses:

J. B. HOWARD, WALTER BRIERLEY. 

